Installation

Any Downloaded Program

Attempt to Unzip gets "Version Not Supported" or "File Not Associated" Message

English Plus+ uses what is considered the Internet standard ZIP program. However, a few unzipping utilities may be incompatible with it. Check out our page on Zip files for links to a number of utilities (some free) that have been tested to work on our files. Grammar Slammer is available in Windows .EXE files which require no unzipping, though they are slightly larger. You may download a demo from our download site in the .EXE format. If you have purchased the program and recieved a ZIP file and still cannot get it to work, contact us for an .EXE file.

After unzipping, you get some kind of error message when you try to execute the INSTALL or SETUP file. Usually it says something like "Windows has blocked access to this file."

If you have your anti-spyware program on a high setting, it will not allow you to execute any program you have taken from a ZIP file.

Here is how to overcome that:

Save the file onto your computer. If you have "unzipped" your files, then they have been saved whereever you directed them to be saved.

Click Start, click My Computer, and navigate to the INSTALL or SETUP file that you saved.

Right-click the file that you saved, and then click Properties.

Click Unblock near the bottom of the dialog box.

Then you should be able to run the installation program. You may also have to use this procedure if you received the INSTALL or SETUP file via e-mail or Internet download.

Grammar Slammer with Checkers

The program says it cannot find File SSCE5332.dll or SSCE5232.dll.

Early downloads had a problem with the installation of one or the other of these files. You should have one file or the other in your installation folder. First, try simply renaming SSCE5232.dll to SSCE5332.dll. This file should be located in your Grammar Slammer installation folder. On most systems, that should solve the problem. If the error message persists after doing that, go to the bottom of our Download Page, where you can download either of these files (about 110K each). Simply copy them to the same folder where all your other Grammar Slammer Deluxe with Checkers (gsextra.exe) files were installed.

Grammar Slammer

I Can't figure out How to Use Grammar Slammer

If you installed Grammar Slammer or Grammar Slammer Deluxe, you should have an icon with the program's name in your Grammar Slammer Window. Click (or double-click, depending on how you set up Windows) and a small toolbar appears. Click the "G" button for the main grammar reference. This will pop up nearly 400 pages of easy to find English grammar information in the familiar Windows help file format. If you have Grammar Slammer Deluxe, there will be a similar "S" button with a similar reference of over 500 pages for English spelling. The "?" button displays a menu which includes various program choices like "Run at Start" or "Tool Tray Icon." Move the toolbar to any position on the screen by dragging the tab at the right end of the toolbar. If you have Grammar Slammer with Checkers, then the button with the check mark brings up the checkers.

If you run the program from the tool tray icon, clicking on the icon will give you the main English grammar reference, same as the "G" button. Right clicking on the icon will give you the menu, same as the "?" button. That is all.

Remember the original Grammar Slammer is a reference tool to be used with your checkers; it is not a checker itself. Ask for or download Grammar Slammer with Checkers if that is what you are looking for. The checkers are available only in Windows. For more on what grammar and spelling checkers can and cannot do, see http://englishplus.com/news/readthis.htm or the "What to Expect from Grammar Programs" icon in your Grammar Slammer "Programs" Window.

Problem with Installing Macros to Word Processors

There are two separate installation processes. First, install Grammar Slammer or Grammar Slammer Deluxe to whatever folder would be appropriate for you. During installation install the Word Processor Macro files into the Macro directory of your Word Processor program. Be sure to check this before installing the macro files. The installation program is set up for the commonest folders (directories) but there are many variations.

Since our toolbar or tool tray icon works in any Windows environment with any program, we do not recommend installing the macros unless you are familiar with your word processor's macros and prefer referring to Grammar Slammer from within your word processor.

The next step has to be done "manually" by the user. There is no autoinstall for installing macros into Word Processors. Follow the directions in the your Specific Word Processor Info file. If you installed the macro files, there should be an icon to click on this. Each of the four supported word processors has a different method for installing macros. After that, you can customize the word processor to include the toolbar button, keystroke, menu option, or any combination to get Grammar Slammer or Grammar Slammer Deluxe to pop up. If you do not work with macros much, you may need to check the help file or manual. You may have to change some folder notations depending on your system setup.

Unfortunately, word processor macros have to be added to your system "manually," but the steps are pretty straightforward. The macros are considered custom documents, and only the user can customize them. The registered copies of both programs and the Word-Processor-Specific demo files for Grammar Slammer have all the files you need.

For Mircrosoft Word Users.
The MS Word Macro language has not changed since version 2.0. The macro does work on Word 97 and 2000. You may need to check to make sure that your MS Word is set up for Macros. In order to add written macros to your Word for Windows program, you must make sure that the Macro Language (WordBasic) has been installed. Word for Windows 6 and higher include a number of choices for installation. Make sure the Macro materials are installed. If not, reinstall MS Word from your original disks or CD-ROM and include the Macro/Word Basic option. (This can be done without destroying any files.) Consult your Word manual if you need more information.

For Word Perfect Users.
The Word Perfect macro language seems to change with each version change. However, Word Perfect does include a macro conversion utility to convert macros to the current version. Our Word Perfect macros are written in the two versions which can be converted any other version. Use one or the other with the Word Perfect macro conversion utility.

This usually happens on machines which are configured for a language other than English. If this happens, you may manually copy and rename the files to the selected directory. We recommend making a directory (folder) named C:\GRAMSLAM and then copying the necessary files into it. The files needed are GRAMSLAM.EXE, GRAMSLAM.TXT,
GRAMSLAM.HLP, EPOB.ICO, README.TXT, and GRAMSLAM.CNT. No other files
are needed in any other directory, so a manual uninstall is easy, just
remove the directory. Please note that the installation program may create
a file with the suffix .LOG. Keep this file so that the uninstall program
will work should you need to uninstall. When the program runs, a file
named GRAMSLAM.GID is also created.

2) You cannot get the GRAMSLAM.HLP file to work for you

If you cannot get the GRAMSLAM.HLP file to work for you, try going into
the Windows Explorer, and double-click on the GRAMSLAM.HLP file. If this
does not successfully call up the Grammar Slammer help file, then either
your WINHELP.EXE program is not working, not present, or in the wrong
directory (it should be in your \WINDOWS directory), or your machine for
some reason is not compatible.

This could be caused by one of two things. 1) Delete or uninstall the shareware files before installing the registered version. The Windows Help file reader program (WINHELP.EXE or WINHELP32.EXE) refers to its own INI files sometimes and it may be referring to one of those. Deleting the shareware files first should take care of that. 2) A defective or missing GRAMSLAM.CNT file (Windows 95/98/NT). Contact English Plus for a replacement file.

4) You get "Not Supported by Winhelp32" or similar message

You have a Windows 3 version of the program, and your operating system does not have the Microsoft "legacy" software to read it. Contact English Plus for the Windows 95/98/NT version.

5) The Toolbar Icons do not appear, but look like blanks or black sqares

This is a known bug with the programming language used for Grammar Slammer and Grammar Slammer Deluxe. The language manufacturer has advised us that some video cards may not be able to display the color buttons in some video modes, and that they are unable to support all video cards on the market. There are two solutions which work for most users: (a) Try changing the screen resolution--for example, one ATI card we found works at 24 bit full color but not at 16 or 32 bit full color. (b) Try different version of the software. Download a shareware copy or, if you are a registered user, ask us for a fix. Version 1 will work on all systems (though it is missing a few features of later versions); Version 3 has been written to avoid this in most cases. Version 3 also includes a tray icon option--which many Windows 95/98/NT/2000 users prefer to the toolbar anyhow.

Make sure file VBRUN300.DLL is present in your \WINDOWS\SYSTEM directory. Otherwise this usually happens on older machines (such as 386/25's) or machines which are configured for a language other than English. If this happens, you may manually copy and rename the files to the selected directory. We recommend making a directory (folder) named C:\GRAMSLAM and then copying the necessary files into it. The files needed are GRAMSLAM.EX_ which should be renamed GRAMSLAM.EXE; GRAMSLAM.TX_ to be renamed GRAMSLAM.TX_; GRAMSLAM.HL_ to be renamed GRAMSLAM.HLP; GS1.IN_ to be renamed GS1.INI; GSB.IC_ to be renamed GSB.ICO; GSLAUNCH.HL_ to be renamed GSLAUNCH.HLP; and TBAR.VB_ to be renamed TBAR.VBX. On some systems, the file GS1.INI must be placed in the \WINDOWS directory (folder).

2) You get a "Path not found" Message

After setting up and trying to run Grammar Slammer, you get a "Path not found" message. This may happen if the WINDOWS directory is on a different drive than the Grammar Slammer files. Try moving the Grammar Slammer directory and files to the same drive as the WINDOWS directory. The GS1.INI file should be in the \WINDOWS directory. If there is still a problem, check to make sure all files are present. On a few older PC's there may still be a "path not found" message. Check to insure that the file WINHELP.EXE is in your \WINDOWS directory. If it is missing or corrupted, it must be installed from your Windows installation disks.

For some reason the TBAR.VBX file does not work on a few machines. In that case, you may still use Grammar Slammer, but you cannot use the toolbar In that case, add Grammar Slammer to your Startup Window. (IF the startup window is missing, consult your Windows manual for how to create it.) Edit the "File|Properties" so that the command line reads "winhelp.exec:\gramslam\gramslam.hlp" and choose the GSB.ICO for the icon. (Clearly if Grammar Slammer is in a different directory than c:\gramslam, you will have to make the necessary changes.) Then check the "run minimized" box.This will cause Grammar Slammer to be loaded as an icon which you can click or double-click to call up.

3) Grammar Slammer Still Does Not Run

If that still does not work, try going into the File Manager or Windows Explorer, and double-click on the GRAMSLAM.HLP file. If this does not successfully call up the Grammar Slammer help file, then either your WINHELP.EXE program is not working, not present, or in the wrong directory (it should be in your \WINDOWS directory), or your machine for some reason is not compatible. You may want to double-check to insure that your files are not corrupted.

4) You get a "File not found" Message

If you get a "File Not Found" message, this usually means that there is a file which is not installed to the proper directory or that there is a file that is missing. Make sure that your GRAMSLAM.HLP file is in the same directory as your GRAMSLAM.EXE file. If you downloaded one of the specialized Word Processor files, make sure the GRAMDEMO.HLP file (or GRAMSLAM.HLP file in the registered version) is in the directory (or folder) C:\GRAMSLAM. If it is in a different drive or directory, move it to the correct one, OR edit the macro you are using to show the proper drive or directory. It is also possible to get the "File Not Found" message if the GS1.INI file is corrupted or not in the C:\WINDOWS directory. The GS1.INI file does not come with the Word Processor demo files.

WinAlter

If the SETUP program does not work--this may happen on some non-English systems--then copy WINALTER.EXE to any directory you want. Many people have some kind of Utility directory like C:\UTIL. Copy WINALTER.INI to the \WINDOWS directory. You will find most of your *.INI initialization files in this directory. Make sure that the file VBRUN300.DLL is in your \WINDOWS\SYSTEMdirectory. Chances are, if you have many Windows programs, you probably have this file already. If not, it available for free from most bulletin boards, online services, and software and shareware dealers. See the Download page on this Web Site for a link to download this program. Note that all our download files that need VBRUN files now have them, but you may have downloaded an older file that required it separately.

WinAlter Tricks

It is easy to "drag and drop" files from the File Manager (or Windows Explorer) to WinAlter. Simply click the left mouse button on any file name you want to alter and keep the button pressed down until the cursor is touching any part of the WinAlter window. Release the button and the file will be loaded onto WinAlter.

To load more than one file at a time, hold the Ctrl Key down and you may click on as many files in the same directory as you like. When you have clicked on the last file that you want, hold the left mouse button down and drag the cursor to any part of the WinAlter window, release the Ctrl key, and all the files that you selected will be loaded. If you want a whole group of files, do the same but hold the Shift key down and click on the first and last file in the group. This will select all the files between the two that you clicked on. You then may "drag" them all and "drop" them onto WinAlter.

If you are using a version of Windows other than 3.1 or 3.11, then you may find it quicker to change the command line to ALTER.EXE. The registered diskette automatically installs it this way.